Reel driving mechanism



Oct 20,1959 c F VAN HOOK 2,909,339

' REEL DRIVING MEC HANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21, 1958 \NN m 17m mm 5 r 3 PM 3 Q 3 5 a 2 n 9 v a f v1. N On) mv7 Qfl @n M .II .3 mm o. m I 1 9 3 a r Q L 1 m .S w

IN VEN TOR. CHARLES E VAN HOOK Oct. 20, 1959 Filed April 21, 195? c. F; VAN HOOK REEL DRIVING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' REEL DRIVING MECHANISM Charles F. Van Hook, Fairlawn, NJ.

Application April 21, 1958, Serial No. 729,783

8 Claims. (11. 242-os .s

The invention herein disclosed relates to a drive mechanism for supporting one endof, and controlling rotation of an arbor or reel on which flexible material such as cloth, paper, wire, etc., is wound. More particularly, 'the invention relates to a drive mechanism of the kind 'mentioned with which there is associated a longitudinally movable pintle on which the arbor or reel is rotatably supported, and a movable drive arm for engaging the reel as the arbor or reel is driven or braked by the drive mechanism.

As is well known in the art, reels, particularly those that are to contain very heavy loads of material wound thereon, are mounted on spaced, movable mounts connected to move conjointly so that the pintles, or shaft receiving sections may be brought into alignment with the axial opening in a reel while the reel rests on the floor. The spaced mounts may then be moved synchronously to elevate the reel to the position where material may be wound or unwound therefrom. Nor mally, one of such levers may have associated therewith a supporting pintle and the other a movable or retractable pintle for engaging and releasing the reel.

In general, it is desirable that the retractable pintle be in the driving arm or lever as it is through this arm that the driving connection with the reel is made. Thus, the operator may effect movement of the pintle and driving connection from the same side of the reel. Furthermore, it is important in respect of time and facility of eflort that the drive engagement, to drive or brake, be separately connected as simply and rapidly as may be practicable.

By the invention herein disclosed, there is provided a compact easily operated drive mechanism in which the drive connection and pintle are independently shiftable longitudinally of the drive shaft and in which the arrangement through which the drive connection is shifted longitudinally of the shaft also forms the driving connection with the drive shaft. In accordance with the Patented Oct. i0; 1959 achieved. All of the mechanism is contained within and about a single hollow drive shaft. d, the manipulation of such mechanism is effectively controlled at one P The entire drive mechanism disclosed is carried by a bifurcatedjmount, designated by the numeral 1. This mount is one of the two spaced, movable mounts men tioned above, and well known in the art, which are used to raiseand lower a reel. Within hubs 2 on the end of the mount 1, there is rotatably mounted a hollow shaft 3, in roller bearings 4, on one side, and ball bearings 5 on the other.

The purpose of the drive shaft is, of course, to drive or brake the movement of a reel. Thus, as illustrated in the drawings, a gear 6, which alternatively might be a brake drum, is connected, through three keys 7 and complementary keyways to the shaft 3 for rotation of the shaft with the gear. These keys 7 constitute the fundamental drive connection between the gear 6 and the hollow shaft 3.

In addition to the driving connecting keys 7 and their respective keyways, the outer surface of the drive shaft 3 is provided with three longitudinal slots 8, spaced one hundred and twenty degrees apart and intermediate the invention, the pintle is mounted within the drive shaft and movable longitudinally thereof and the drive arm that connects with the reel is mounted on and secured to a longitudinally movable arrangement that is connected to the shaft for rotation therewith.

In order to provide a clearer understanding ofthe invention, there is disclosed in the accompanying drawings one specific embodiment of the invention, which embodiment is described in detail below.

The drawings include:

Fig. 1, which is an axial, sectional elevation of a drive mechanism of one practical embodiment of the invention herein disclosed;

Fig. 2, which is an end elevation of the same;

Fig. 3, which is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, which is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5, which is a transverse section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

In the particular embodiment of the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings, thereare two correlated and combined arrangements dependent, one upon the other, to effectuate the fundamentals of the invention, namely, a drive mechanism correlated with surface of the shaft.

slots for the driving keys 7. The slots 8 extend from end to end of the drive shaft. Within the slots 8, there are longitudinally movable splines 9, each having at one end, the reel end, a lug or thickened section 10, and at the other end a threaded surface 11. The lugs or thickened end sections 10 of the splines 9 are received in internal slots or keyways 12 in the hub 13 of a drive arm 14 and in effect form driving keys connecting the drive arm to the shaft 3 for rotation therewith. In addition, the hub 13 ofthe drive arm is secured to the splines for axial or longitudinal, movement with respect to the shaft by machine screws 15. Thus, it will be observed that the splines 9 effect two functions, namely, they constitute keys connecting the drive arm 14 to the shaft 3 for rotation therewith, and they provide a means whereby the drive arm may be moved longitudinally of the shaft for effecting the engagement or disengagement of a drive pin 16, carried by the drive arm, with a reel.

For shifting the splines 9 longitudinally of the shaft 3, there is provided a hand wheel 17 having an internally threadedhub 18 engaging the threads 11 on the splinesv 9. To effect such engagement, the shaft 3 is reducedi in external diameter as at 19. The hand wheel 17 is; confined against longitudinal movement with respect to. the shaft by spaced collars 20 and 21, secured on the: shaft and engaging the hub of the hand wheel which is. In consequence of this:

mounted between the collars. arrangement, rotation of the hand wheel with respect tot the shaft (which is done only when the shaft is stationary); effects longitudinal movement of the splines 9, and of course the drive arm 14, with respect to the shaft 3, in either direction, depending upon the direction of rotation of the hand wheel.

In the drawing, the drive arm 14 is shown in the posi tion in which the drive pin 16 engages in driving connection with a reel. The driving ends of the splines 9, in this position, engage a retaining ring 22. The ring 22 is received in a circumambient slot adjacent the end of the shaft 3 and extends beyond the circumferential outer Also, in this position, the threaded ends of the splines 9 are well within the collar 21 secured on the end of the shaft 3. The design is such that in the retracted, i.e. nondriving, position of the drive arm, the ends of the splines 9 do not extend beyond the collar 21.

A pintle 23 constitutes the extended end of a pintle rod 24, circular in cross section and slidably mounted within the hollow shaft 3. Intermediate its ends, the

rod 24 is reduced in diameter to provide two spaced hubs 25 and 26 which engage, in, sliding contact, the ,inner surface ofthe hollow shaft 3. This, of course, reduces the sliding, frictional contact of the, rod and-the inner surface of the shaftwithout in any way reducing the carrying capacity of the pintle. At the inner end, the end within the shaft 3 and opposite to the pintle, the rod is bored axially as indicated by the numeral 27. A counter bore is effected at the hub 26, and an internally threaded fixture 28 is inserted therein and secured to the rod by machine screws, such as the machine screw 29.

The internally threaded fixture 28 receives the externally threaded end 30 of an elongated screw shaft 31 which extends beyond the collar 21 and has a hand wheel 32 secured thereto to effect rotation of the screw shaft. Adjacent the hand wheel 32, the screw shaft 31 is journaled in a bushing 33, secured within, and partially extending from the end of the shaft 3, in fact, to the end of the collar 21, which, as shown in Fig. 1 extends beyond the end of the shaft 3. The bushing 33 is secured within the shaft 3 by a machine screw 34 that extends through the collar 21 and the shaft 3, and is threaded into the bushing.

In connection with the arrangement described above,

. it will be apparent that the pintle rod 24 must not turn .and pintle are moved longitudinally of the drive shaft to effect insertion into or retraction from an opening in a reel or arbor.

It should be noted that with this arrangement, the pintle is keyed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith. Thus, there is no relative rotation of reel and pintle, and obviously no frictional drag. In consequence, the arrangement serves two purposes, namely, retraction and insertion of the pintle, and rotation of the pintle with the rotation of the reel, or rather the drive shaft.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the hand wheel 32 is pivotally mounted on the extended, enlarged, end 38 of the screw shaft 31 by a pivot pin 39. The enlarged end 38 of the screw shaft forms a shoulder 40 which engages a like shoulder formed by counterboring the adjacent end of the bushing 33. The internal diameter of the hub 41 of the hand wheel 32 is somewhat larger than the end 38 diameter of the screw shaft 31 so that the hand wheel may rock on the pivot pin 39. At one point in the side of the hub 41 of the hand wheel 32, there is a detent 42, positioned to engage in a detent receiving opening 43 in the end of the bushing 33. The hand wheel 32 is biased, by a spring 44. toward the tilted .position shown wherein the detent is. engaged. This represents the position in which the pintle is inthe forward or reel-engaging position, the position shown in Fig. l.

The arrangement serves several purposes. Engagement of the detent prevents accidental movementof the pintle, and the tilt of the hand wheel 32 indicates to the operator that the detent is engaged. To move the pintle the operator must first tilt the hand wheel 32 to the vertical position against the action of the spring 44 and so release the detent. It is to be noted that in the forward position of the pintle, the position shown, the key 36 abuts against the inner end of the elongated keyway 35, thus limiting further forward movement of the pintle. In this position, the detent42 is aligned with the detentreceiving depression 43. In the fully retracted position of the pintle, the pintle abuts against the forward end of the keyway 35.

As is well known in the art, reels, arbors etc. containing a great weight of material are placed, on the fioor, between the spaced movable mounts and arranged so that thepintle on one of the movable mounts is received in the opening therefor. Next the movable pintle 23, described above is inserted. The reel is then lifted -by the movablermounts, and riding on the pintles is easily rotated. It is then rotated to bring the drive opening in the side thereof into coincidence with the v drive pin 16, and, as described above, the drive arrm 14 is moved longitudinally of the shaft 3 to effect engagement of the drive pin in the reel, pin-receiving open- 7 ing.

Thus, the drive mechanism disclosed and described as one specific, embodiment of this invention will demonstrate to those skilled in the art that by this invention there is provided a drive mechanism of the kind mentioned that is compact in structure; that is suitable. for use with all types of movable mounts, that is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture; and that permits an operator to. effect lifting and driving connections simply and rapidly.

It will be obvious that those skilled in the art may make various changes in the structure disclosed and described within the principle and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A drive mechanism for supporting one end of a reel and controlling the rotation of the reel, which drive mechanism comprises in combination a drive shaft, and shiftable mechanism effective for longitudinal movement with respect to the drive shaft and in the entirety mounted coaxially with the drive shaft, said shiftable mechanism including a reel-controlling arrangement connected with said drive shaft, rotatable therewith and movable longitudinally thereof, a pintle associated with said shaft and movable longitudinally thereof, means for effecting longitudinal movement of said reel-controlling arrangement and additional means for effecting longitudinal movement of said pintle, both said reel-controlling and pintle moving means being associated with said drive shaft.

2. A drive mechanism for supporting one end of a reel and controlling the rotation of the reel, which drive mechanism comprises in combination a drive shaft, and shiftable mechanism effective for longitudinal movement with respect to the drive shaft and in the entirety mounted coaxially with the drive shaft, said shiftable mechanism including a reel-connecting arrangement connected with said drive shaft, which reel-connecting arrangement is rotatable with said drive shaft and movable longitudinally thereof for engagement with and disengagement from a reel, means for effecting the rotation of said drive shaft and therewith said reel-connecting engagement, a pintle associated with said drive shaft and movable longitudinally thereof for insertion and retraction in the axial opening of the reel, means for effecting longitudinal movement of said reel-connecting arrangement, and additional means, independent of said means for effecting longitudinal movement of said reel-connecting arrangement for effecting longitudinal movement of said pintle.

3. A drive mechanism for supporting one end'of a reel and controlling the rotation of the reel, which drive mechanism includes, in combination, a hollow drive shaft having equally spaced keyways extending longitudinally along its exterior surface, a rotatable drive arm concentric with and mounted on said drive shaft at one end thereof and having along its bore, keyways matching those in the outer surface of the hollow drive shaft, slide elements engaging in the keyways of said drive shaft and the internal keyways in said drive arm, said slide whereby said slide elements effect a drive connection between the drive arm and the shaft and shifts the drive arm longitudinally of the shaft, a support pintle concentric with and within the hollow drive shaft and movable longitudinally thereof to enter into and be withdrawn from the bore of the reel placed substantially coaxially therewith, said drive arm and said pintle being each arranged to occupy longitudinal positions with respect to the drive shaft independently of each other, means for effecting longitudinal movement of the drive arm, and additional means for effecting longitudinal movement of the pintle, the entire mechanism being characterized by the fact that all elements are coaxially relatedto the drive shaft.

4. A drive mechanism for supporting one end of a reel and controlling the rotation of the reel comprising, in combination, a movable mount for the said drive mechanism, which driving mechanism includes a hollow drive shaft rotatably mounted in said mount, said hollow shaft having equally spaced keyways extending longitudinally along its outer surface, a rotatable drive arm concentric with and over the drive shaft and having along its bore keyways matching those in the exterior of the drive shaft, slide elements attached to the drive arm and within the keyways in the drive shaft and movable longitudinally of the drive shaft, whereby the slide elements effect a drive connection between the shaft and the drive arm and upon longitudinal movement effect longitudinal movement of the drive 'arm, means mounted coaxial with and upon the drive shaft for eifeeting longitudinal movement of the slide elements and the drive arm relative to the drive shaft, a support pintle concentric within the hollow drive shaft having a free end and movable longitudinally of the shaft to enter into and withdraw from the bore of the reel placed substantially coaxial therewith, and means mounted coaxial with the drive shaft for effecting longitudinal movement of the pintle, said drive arm and said pintle being each adapted to occupy longitudinal positions independently of the other, the entire mechanism being characterized by the fact that all elements are coaxially related to the drive shaft.

5. A drive mechanism for supporting one end of a reel and controlling rotation of the reel comprising, in combination, a movable mount for the said drive mechanism, which drive mechanism includes an annular hollow drive shaft rotatably supported in said mount, said hollow drive shaft having equally spaced keyways extending longitudinally along its outer surface, a rotatable drive arm concentric with and over the drive shaft and having along its bore keyways matching those in the exterior of the drive shaft, slide elements attached to the drive arm and within the keyways in the drive shaft and movable longitudinally of the drive shaft, said slide elements having threaded portions, a matching nut mounted coaxial with the drive shaft and engaging the threads on the slide elements for effecting longitudinal movement of the slide elements, whereby the slide elements effect a drive connection between the shaft and the drive arm and longitudinal movement of the drive arm with respect to the drive shaft, a support pintle concentric vvithin the hollow drive shaft having a free end and movable longitudinally to enter into and withdraw from the bore of the reel placed substantially coaxial therewith, and a screw with an engaging nut mounted coaxial with and acting upon the pintle so as to effect axial movement thereof, said drive arm and pintle being each adapted to occupy axial positions independently of the other, the entire mechanism being characterized by the fact that all elements are coaxially related to the drive shaft.

6. In a drive mechanism of the kind described, the combination comprising a rotatably mounted drive shaft having circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending keyways in the outer surface thereof, a drive arm having keyways in the bore thereof matching the keyways in the shaft, the drive arm being mounted on the shaft and movable longitudinally of the shaft, slide elements having threaded portions within the keyways in the shaft, movable longitudinally thereof and extending into the keyways in the bore of the drive arm, the slide elements being secured to the drive arm, whereby the said slide elements effect a drive connection between the drive arm and the shaft and upon longitudinal movement effect longitudinal movement of the drive arm with respect to the shaft, and a rotatable internally threaded ele ment mounted concentric with the shaft and engaging the threads on the slide elements, whereby rotation of the internally threaded element with respect to the shaft effects longitudinal movement of the slide elements and through the slide elements the drive arm.

7. In a drive mechanism of the kind described, the combination comprising a rotatably mounted drive shaft having circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending keyways in the outer surface thereof, a drive arm having keyways in the bore thereof matching the keyways in the shaft, the drive arm being mounted on the shaft and movable longitudinally of the shaft, slide elements having threaded portions within the keyways in the shaft, movable longitudinally thereof and extending into the keyways in the bore of the drive arm, the slide elements being secured to the drive arm, whereby the said slide elements effect a drive connection between the drive arm and the shaft and upon longitudinal movement effect longitudinal movement of the drive arm with respect to the shaft, and an internally threaded hand wheel mounted concentric with and rotatable with respect to the shaft engaging the threads on the slide elements whereby rotation of the hand wheel with respect to the shaft eifects longitudinal movement of the slide elements and through the slide elements the drive arms 8. In a drive mechanism of the kind described, the combination comprising a rotatably mounted drive shaft having circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending keyways in the outer surface thereof, a drive arm having keyways in the bore thereof matching the keyways in the shaft, the drive arm being mounted on the shaft and movable longitudinally of the shaft, slide elements having threaded portions within the keyways in the shaft, movable longitudinally thereof and extending into the keywaysin the bore of the drive arm, the slide elements being secured to the drive arm, whereby the said slide element-s effect a drive connection between the drive arm and the shaft and upon longitudinal movement effect longitudinal movement of the drive arm with respect to the shaft, an internally threaded hand wheel mounted concentric with and rotatable with respect to the shaft engaging the threads on the slide elements, whereby rotation of the hand wheel with respect to the shaft effects longitudinal movement of the slide elements and through the slide elements the drive arm, a support pintle concentric with the hollow drive shaft having a free end movable longitudinally to enter into and withdraw from the bore of a reel placed substantially coaxial therewith, and a screw with an engaging nut mounted coaxial with and acting upon the pintle so as to effect axial movement thereof, a hand wheel mounted concentric with, rotatable and tiltable with respect to the drive shaft for effecting axial movement of the pintle, resilient means biasing the hand wheel to the tilted position, in Which tilted position of the hand wheel the posi tion of the pintle is fixed and indicated by the tilt of the hand wheel, the entire mechanism being characterized by the fact that all elements are coaxially related to the drive shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 862,109 Roth July 30, 1907 

